If dissatisfied with job, they can quit

Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Shafiqul Islam yesterday said that if any police official is dissatisfied with their job and wants a "better life", they will be allowed to leave the profession with dignity.

"A report was recently published about how police members are upset, having to work 16 to17 hours a day and are annoyed and restless," said the DMP boss, adding that information is occasionally found to be distorted in the news platforms.

He said that in the news, a DMP constable's anonymous quote was used.

The constable, whose quote was used in the report, said he "hoped for a better life" when he joined the police and that the forces are collecting money illegally.

However, not a single penny was deducted from any police member of the DMP, he said.

Shafiqul Islam came up with the statement while inaugurating a sports festival of the Bangladesh Crime Reporters' Association (CRAB) in the capital's Segunbagicha.

The DMP boss said that he had spoken to police members after the report was published.

"The police have to be on duty 24 hours a day," he said, adding, "What do you think, the DMP commissioner is on duty for two hours? We do not have time to sleep; we do not have time to eat...I have worked for 18-hours in one day...When it comes to police work, the pressure will remain."

About accountability, he said, "If there is no journalism, then government jobs would be "fun". [But] We do not want this job for fun... Journalism's task is to ensure accountability and journalists have brought commissioners like me under accountability."